WWW.THESTATE.COM THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 B5 OBITUARIES William G. "Bill" Jones AIKEN William G. "Bill" Jones, 65, beloved husband of Barbara Bledsoe Jones, died Wednesday, September 5, 2007, at his residence after a lengthy illness. A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mr. Jones was a son of the late Jarvis D.
and Ruby Poole Jones, Jr. He was a graduate of Fayetteville Methodist College a and had lived in Aiken for 32 years. Bill was a manufacturer's representative with Dunkin-Lewis, Inc. He was a member of Houndslake Country Club and Woodside Plantation Country Club. He was an avid golfer and loved hunting and fishing.
Survivors, in addition to his wife Barbara, include three sons, William G. (Pam) Jones, Jr. and J. Robert Jones of Alpharetta, GA, and Timothy P. (Cherie) Jones of St.
Louis, MO; four grandchildren, Sydney, Sienna, Savannah and Rian; a sister, Sarah 1 Taylor of East Longmeadow, MA; and a brother, Jarvis D. Jones Ill of Fayetteville, NC. A memorial service will be held Monday, September 10, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of ShellhouseRivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Road, Aiken, SC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Joseph Hospice, 681 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken, SC 29803. Please visit the online memorial at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. Edward Thomas Lewis Sr. SUMTER Edward Thomas Lewis, 85, husband of Kathryn Lewis Lewis, died September 6, 2007, in Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born May 6, 1922, in Manning, SC, he was the son of the late William Morgan Lewis and the late Anna Ruth Touchberry Lewis. Ed was an honor graduate of Clevenger Business College and retired from the Sumter Machinery Company after 50 years of service. He was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church and the Brotherhood Sunday School Class. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion Post 15 for 50 years serving as Adjutant for 10 years. Ed was a WW II veteran of the U.S.
Navy. Until the time of his death, he was one of four living survivors of the 1942 shipwreck and sinking of the WWII USS Truxtun off of the coast of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland. Survivors include his wife and their two sons, Edward Thomas Lewis, Jr. and his wife Jane of Goose Creek and Alfred Dean Lewis III and his wife Martha of Irmo; daughter, Julie Kathryn Lewis of Cayce; four grandchildren, Dr.
Amy Lewis Nolan of Goose Creek, Edward Thomas Lewis III of Charleston, Sara Elizabeth Lewis of Irmo and Alexander Dean Lewis of Irmo; three greatgrandchildren; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Dean Lewis of Sumter; two sisters, Ruth Lewis Reardon and Esther Lewis Reynolds, both of Sumter; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Lewis and Ben Lewis and three sisters, Mary Lewis Dunn, Louise Lewis Bradham and Martha Lewis. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev.
Dr. Clay Smith officiating. Members of the Brotherhood Sunday School Class will be honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Lawrence Heritage Society, PO Box 9092, St.
Lawrence, Newfoundland, Canada A0E-2V0. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. Kenneth Lee Manning IRM0 A memorial service for Kenneth Lee Manning, 53, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2007, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Andrews Chapel. Mr.
Manning was born November 14, 1953, in Richmond, VA, the son of Shirley Hunt Manning and the late Robert Clair Manning. He passed away at his home Thursday, September 5, 2007. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Clair Manning; sister, Victoria Anne Manning and brothers, Philip "Chuck" Manning and William Cooper Durrant. He is survived by his loving wife, Gail Manning of Irmo, SC; parents, Ted and Shirley Durrant of Buchanan, VA; children, Philip Manning of Knoxville, TN, Jennifer Manning-Sadler and her husband Jonathan of Rocky Point, NC, Zachary Zuber of Charleston, SC, Charles Zuber of Chapin, SC, and Robin Madray of Prosperity, SC; grandchildren, Tyler and Olivia Sadler and Gracie Manning, numerous other dear relatives and his beloved dogs, Schnitz and Schnay. Mr.
Manning attended Sea Coast Church. He was a member of the National Honor Society at James River High School in Buchanan, VA, where he was also an All-State linebacker and running back. He served in the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army for a total of 8 years.
He started his first band at 12 years of age which developed into a lifelong love of performing professionally and for friends and family. Ken was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.com KEY Memories Caughman-Harman Funeral Homes Lexington Andrews Chapin- West Columbia James Leroy Miller Jr. COLUMBIA Services for Mr.
James Leroy Miller Jr. will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Palmer Memorial Chapel, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation is 6:00 p.m. today at Palmer Memorial Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Mr. Miller died Wednesday, Sep- tember 5, 2007. Born in Richland County, he was the son of the late James, Sr. and Cora Arledge Miller.
He was a member of Prince Hall Masons, College Lodge and served honorably in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Surviving are his daughters, Sandra M. Blake, Cora M. Davis, Cynthia Robinson, Wanda M.
Glenn and McDaniel; a son, Timothy T. Miller; a sister, Eunice Wooden; a brother, John W. Miller; 13 grandchildren a and 12 great grandchildren. http://palmermemorialchapel.com Jacquelin F. Nelson MURRELLS INLET Jacquelin "Jackie" Frierson Nelson of Murrells Inlet died Wednesday, August 5, 2007, at her home.
Born February 6, 1927, in Conway, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin Taylor Frierson of Williamsburg County and Bernice Hinson Frierson of Alabama. She was a graduate of Conway High School a and Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC. She was a cheerleader in high school and in college where she was voted Most Popular by her classmates in both high school and college. She received a B.S. degree in Physical Education with a minor in Science.
At Winthrop College, she was sports editor of the Tatler, the college annual in her senior year and she was on the Senior edition of the Johnsonian, the college newspaper. After graduation, she taught school in Trenton, FL, where she was the girls' basketball coach and at Myrtle Beach High School where she also was the girls' basketball coach. After her marriage to Morrison "Jug" R. Nelson of Louisville, KY, at First Methodist Church of Conway in 1951, the couple moved to Louisville. Her husband died in 1993.
In 1976, she began writing for the Lexington Herald Leader newspaper in Lexington, KY, where she, her husband and family lived from 1958- 1986. While living in Kentucky she published a children's book, "The Sea Adventure of Gypsy and lackie." A travel story she wrote was published in the Boston Globe in 1983. After moving to Murrells Inlet, she began writing a Neighbors Notebook column in the South Strand Neighbors Section of the Sun News in 1988 which she continued writing until her death. Her booklet, "A Low Country Handbook of Southern Manners and Ways" was complied by her after returning to South Carolina. Proceeds from that booklet went to Friends of the Waccamaw Library.
During her years in Lexington, she was known as an excellent golfer where she won club championships and played and won in local and Southern golf tournaments from New Orleans to Birmingham. Mrs. Nelson also enjoyed tennis and was runner up in the S.C. State Tennis Singles Championship in 1994. She was also runner up in Women's Golf Club Championship at Wachesaw Plantation to Vicki Hillen.
Although confirmed Episcopalian in 1954, she became a Friend of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in 2005. She was a member of the Litchfield Country Club and Wachesaw Plantation. Mrs. Nelson also was an active Lifelong Learner with Coastal Carolina Waccamaw Higher Learning Center.
Surviving are sons, F. Taylor Nelson of Murrells Inlet, Benjamin Frierson Nelson and his wife, Julie of Danville, KY, and Nicholas Ray Nelson and his wife, Vonda of Louisville, KY, and a daughter, Marley Paddock; and grandchildren, Katherine, McKay, Sam, Nicholas and Noah. A graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday in Lakeside Cemetery with Rev. Caldwell Day officiating.
A Celebration of Life will be 5:00 p.m., Sunday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Pawley's Island with a reception following to meet her family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Frances Animal Center, 125 Ridge St. North, Georgetown, SC 29440 or Brookgreen Gardens, Hwy 17, Pawley's Island, SC 29585 or she requests that you plant a tree in her name.
Sign guest book at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Essie Mae Eveline Peeples CAYCE A funeral service for Essie Mae Eveline Peeples, 90, of Cayce, will be held 1 o'- clock, Saturday, September 8, 2007, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, with Major Richard Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Assoc. of S.C., 1817 Gadsden Columbia, SC 29201. Mrs. Peeples died Wednesday, September 5, 2007, only one day before her 91st birthday. Born in Kershaw County, she was the daughter of the late Charlie C.
and Sheppie Bell Christmas. She was a member of the Salvation Army for 57 years, a Sunday School teacher, and Home League secretary for many years until her health failed. She retired from Richland Mills in 1976 due to Brown Lung Illness. Survivors include her daughter and caretaker, Stella Mae Hook of Cayce; son, Thomas Roland Peeples of Cayce; daughter-in-law, Doris Peeples of Pelion, sisters-in-law, Jamie Christmas, Carrie Granger; numerous grandchildren, greatchildren, grandchildren, nieces great nephews, grand. whom she dearly loved.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas A. "T.A." Peeples, son Charles A. Peeples, grandsons, James Michael Hook, David A. Peeples, sisters, Sheppie Evans, Virginia Rish, brother, Charlie C. Christmas.
KEY Memories www.shivesfuneralhome.com (803) 754-6290 Phillip Perritt Sr. RAINS Services for Phillip Perritt, 63, are 2 p.m. Saturday at True Gospel Holiness Church, burial in Sandy Plain United Methodist Church Cemetery. Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Cox-Collins Funeral Home, Mullins. Born in Horry Co.
to Simpson and Hettie Wiggins Perritt, he died Sept. 5, 2007. Surviving: wife, Mary Perritt; children, Pam, Tammy Allen, Michelle Hernandez, Phillip Perritt, 9 grands. Mary Elizabeth Portee COLUMBIA Services for Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Portee, 64, will be held 1:30 p.m.
(viewing at 12:30 p.m.) Saturday at First Northeast Baptist Church with burial in Lincoln Cemetery. Leevy's Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel, is in charge. Surviving are her husband, Press Portee; son, Preston Portee; sisters, Earline Levy, Maebell Levy, Elvenia Levy, and Virginia Evans; brothers, Fred Levy, Jr. and Willie James Levy. www.leevy.com Vickey Lynn Puckett ELGIN Funeral service for Vickey Lynn Puckett, 53, will be held Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
at International Praise Church of God with burial to follow in Hardshell Cemetery, Lugoff. The family will receive friends Friday 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff. Mrs. Puckett died Tuesday, September 4, 2007.
Born in Atlanta, she was a daughter of the late Tillman D. and Margaret Marie Palmer. Surviving are her husband, Thomas Wages; sons, Jimmy Brian Puckett and Troy Keith Wages; sister, Pattie Palmer Keegan; and grandchildren, Ashlyn, Kyleigh and Noah. Sign the online register at www.powersfuneralhome.net. 3 0 POWERS FUNERAL HOME 832 Ridgeway Road Lugoff, SC 29078 803-408-8711 www.powersfuneralhome.net William Frederick Reagan GASTON William Frederick Reagan, 66, U.S.
Navy of Gaston, died at his home in Gaston. Mr. Reagan was born March 2, 1941, in Berwyn, a son of the late Leo Bonard and Della Mae Chestnut Reagan. He was a retired U.S. Navy Chief, having served in the U.S.
Navy for 24 years. Surviving are his wife, Amanda Owens Reagan of Gaston; sons, Kyle Dwayne Reagan of Jacksonville, Rory Shane Reagan of New York City, Curtis Scott Reagan of Savannah, a daughter, Shannon Leigh R. Steen of Summerville, S.C.; sisters, June Bray of Ontario, Susan Bellows of Madison, and Mary Moore of Sullivan, and ten grandchildren. Funeral services with full U.S. Navy military honors will be held 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in the Denmark, S.C., Cemetery, with Pastor George Gain officiating. Mercer Funeral Home 803 793 4211 Julius Scott GADSDEN Services for Mr. Julius Scott, 66, will be held 1:30 p.m. (viewing at 12:30 p.m.) Saturday at Red Hill Baptist Church in Gadsden with burial in the church's cemetery.
Family will be meeting at 4618 Arlington Street, Columbia. Leevy's Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel, is in charge. Surviving are his brother, James Scott; sister, Frances Jones; nephew and caregiver, Collis Jones; other nieces and nephews. www.leevy.com Leland Sam Shaw Jr. KINGSTREE Services with burial for Leland Sam Shaw, 55, will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Dimery and Rogers Funeral Home is in charge. Born in Kingstree to Leland, Sr. and Etta Mae Scott Shaw, he died September 5, 2007.
Surviving: daughters, Samantha Shaw, Shakonna Grant; mother; brother, Charles Shaw; three aunts, Susanna, Mildred and Mary Jane. Morgan Douglas Shull, 55, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2007, at St. David Lutheran Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to St. David Lutheran Church, 132 St. David's Church Road, Columbia, SC 29170. Mr. Shull, born in Richland County March 26, 1952, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2007.
He was the son of Lavinia Lowman Shull and the late M.D. Shull. Mr. Shull was a graduate of Lexington High School and attended Midlands Technical College. He was an employee of Lexington Dry Cleaners.
Mr. Shull is survived by his mother; sister, Elizabeth Shull Busbee (Ralph) and niece, Ashley abeth Busbee. Morgan Douglas Shull COLUMBIA A graveside service for KEY Memories man Funeral Homes Lexington Andrews Chapin West Columbia Frizeal Caldwell Smith COLUMBIA Services for Mrs. Frizeal Caldwell Smith, 95, will be held 11:00 a.m. (viewing at 10:00 a.m.) Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church on Koon Road with burial in Emancipation Church Cemetery in St.
Matthews, SC. Wake services will be held 6:00 p.m. this evening at Leevy's Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel. Surviving are her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, greatnephews; many other relatives and caring friends. www.leevy.com Doris Jean Gordon Thompson COLUMBIA A Homegoing service celebrating the life of Doris Jean Gordon Thompson will be held noon Saturday at BostickTompkins Funeral Home, with the Reverend Joiquin L.
Barnes officiating. Interment will follow. Visitation is from 6:30 7:30 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Mrs.
Thompson went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Willie Wilson Gordon and Janie Smith Gordon Mack. She graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in 1957 where she was the reigning Miss C.A.
Johnson. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Benedict College and later did graduate work at Virginia State University, University of South Carolina, and Columbia College where she received a master's degree in Special Education. Doris' professional career included thirty plus years as a teacher until she retired in 2003. She worked at various schools Columbia, which included: Fairwold Center, Fairwold Middle School and Crayton Middle School. Other areas include Richland District 2, Mount Zion Intermediate and Fairfield Intermediate in Winnsboro, South Carolina.
Her church affiliations began at a young age at Ebenezer Baptist Church where she was baptized. Later in life she became a member of her neighborhood church, Community C.M.E., where she served on various committees and organizations including: Women's Day, Mattie E. Coleman Department Advisor, Church Anniversary Committee, Missionary Society, Trustee Board, Tutorial Program and Dean of Vacation Bible School. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Thompson, a stepson, Richard Thompson, and stepdaughter, Cynthia (Winston) Johnson, sisters, Shirley (Eugene) Glover, Juanita (Larry) Calhoun, Ethel Moore, Ollie (Philip) Major; and a brother, Bobby (Dolores) Gordon; four sisters-in-law, Doris Gordon, Dorothy Gordon, Myrtle Gordon and Sara White; two brothers-in-law, James Thompson and Bobby Gene Bibbs; two grandchildren, Winston Johnson, Jr. Vanessa Johnson; eleven nieces and nine nephews.
Sr. Master Sgt. Ralph Alvin Toler CHESTERFIELD Sr. Master Sgt. Ralph Alvin Toler, USAF died September 4, 2007, at the age of 63.
Born September 19, 1943, he was the son of the late Sidney Alvin and Blondell Matuse Toler. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Cheraw, and was also active in the South Carolina Technical Education Association, the National Rifle Association, Friends of The NRA- Sandhills Chapter (past chairman), Mid Carolina Rifle Club, Practical Shooters Confederation, and Grass Roots of S.C. Mr. Toler had retired from the U.S. Air Force with over 29 years of service.
He attained the rank of senior master sergeant, and was stationed at the Air Mobility Command 315th Wing 81st Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base. Mr. Toler was a graduate of Air University, the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and the U.S. Department of Labor Machinist School. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Carpenter Toler of the home; one daughter, Tamara Toler-Hall of Cheraw; two sons, Ralph Alvin Toler, Jr.
of Hightstown, NJ, and Jason Thomas Toler of Cheraw; also, two grandchildren, Rozanna TolerWilliams of Charleston, SC, and Joanna Arielle Williams of Rock Hill, SC, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday September 8, 2007, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Cheraw, with interment in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 7, at Norton Funeral Home of Cheraw.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Chesterfield County, P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, SC 29709, or the USPSA Juniors Program. Norton Funeral Home of Cheraw is serving the family of Mr. Toler. www.no www.nortonfuneralofcheraw.com Horace C.
Turner Jr. LYMAN Horace Calvin "Cotton" Turner, 70, of Lyman, died September 5, 2007, in Spartanburg Regional Gibbs Cancer Center after an illness. A native of Greenville County, son of the late Horace Calvin Turner, Sr. and Lola Eleanor Forrester Turner, he had retired as an electrician for Huntington Guerry Electric in Greenville, was a member of Victor United Methodist Church, and a member of Woodmen of the World. "Cotton" to many co-workers, Mr.
Turner was a faithful family man and loyal employee. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Surviving are his wife, Ruby Ann Hawkins Turner of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rodney and Sheree Turner of Lyman and Michael and Heather Turner of Prosperity; two daughters and sons-inlaw, Charlotte and Sam Painter of Greer and Wanda and Gary Fowler of Inman; a sister-in-law, Betty Turner; two sisters and brother-inlaw, Polly Davis and Margaret and Gene McGee, all of Greer; eight grandchildren, Brad Turner, Hillary Turner Charles and her husband, Ron, Chad Painter and his wife, Erin, Micah Painter, Ryan Alley and his wife, Kelly, Corry Rudisill, Jonathan Fowler and his fiancee, Jenna, and Ellie Grace Turner; and five greatgrandchildren, Abbi Rudisill, Caitlyn Rudisill, Megan Charles, Ethan Charles, and Emma Brooke Alley. Mr. Turner was predeceased by one daughter, Judith Lynn Turner and two brothers and sister-in-law, Carlos and Barbara Turner and James Turner.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Victor United Methodist Church, conducted by Rev. Les Gardner and Rev. Frank Griffith, Jr. Burial will follow i in Wood Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Corry Rudisill, Chad Painter, Ryan Alley, Brad Turner, Jonathan Fowler and Ron Charles. Visitation will be held p.m. Friday at the Wood Mortuary. The family is at the home of Charlotte Painter, 105 Pleasant Heights, Greer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Victor United Methodist Church General Fund, 1 Wilson Avenue, Greer, S.C.
29651. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com. APPEAL FROM PAGE B1 day 4-year-old kindergarten in the districts suing the state, but not statewide. "Take the same question to the same man, you kind of expect the same conclusion," said Ed Taylor, Laurens 55 superintendent. "It wasn't being handled in the Legislature and gave us no recourse but to handle it judicially," he said of the appeal.
Rep. Cathy Harvin, D-Clarendon, said she hopes "a new pair of eyes" at the Supreme Court will help the state resolve the funding issue. "I am very glad that we are going to give the state the opportunity to be sure that all children in the state whether they happen to be in metropolitan areas or rural areas get the same opportunity to live," she said. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiff districts, Morrison said he hopes to see a state funding system that provides for all districts. If the court rules in favor of the state's appeal, the school districts could lose the early childhood intervention measures.
Either way, superintendents said they'll be around through the next trial, which has no set timetable. "I'm in it for the long haul," Taylor said. BARNWELL FROM PAGE B1 DHEC disclosing the information to them. Bo Aughtry, a developer who chairs the DHEC board, was noncommittal on the request for an internal review, but defended the agency's staff. "They get unfairly cast, and it is frustrating to me," he said.
"They work long hours. They are sensitive to the citizens of our state." Agency officials for years have acknowledged tritium leaked from the landfill in the late 1970s, but insist it poses little threat to the public. Sellers, whose district includes Barnwell County, said DHEC staff members gave the impression during legislative debate last spring that the nuclear waste dump was safe. Energy Solutions, the site's operator, tried unsuccessfully to keep the landfill open beyond its 2008 date to close to the nation. "I am struck by how often regulators said things like 'the site is being operated in a safe manner," Sellers said during a news conference.
"Clearly, DHEC's own monitoring stations indicate otherwise." In her letter, Timberlake said the agency has other problems. They include a failure to consider public input on an air permit near Charleston and its inability to provide clear, easy-to-understand water pollution data. FINKLEA FROM PAGE B1 robbery and murder and had even visited Solectron the night before to scope out the security system. Myers held a gun in his right hand and a red gasoline can in his left as he spoke to the jury. Sykes' family shuddered and dabbed at tears during the description of his death.
Defense attorney Melissa J. Kimbrough disputed Myers' characterization of Finklea as "the worst of the worst." "As a criminal defense attorney, you run into a lot of different kinds of people a lot of spades. I submit to you that he is not that. He was involved in a heinous crime. But he is not the worst of the worst, not by a long shot." Kimbrough, who asked the jury to recommend a life sentence for Finklea, said Myers wanted the jury to tap into their anger.
"It's easier to kill someone when you're angry. When bad things happen to good people like Walter Sykes, people get angry." Witnesses for the prosecution said Finklea sold crack cocaine from a relative's house and even recruited his 16-year-old stepson to sell for him. Kimbrough reminded the jury there was no evidence Finklea ever sold drugs. She said witnesses who testified about Finklea's drug dealing were trying to protect Theodore Davis, Finklea's former brother-in-law, who also is charged with murder in Sykes' death. Davis has not yet been tried.
Myers questioned Finklea's claims of amnesia after a failed suicide attempt several days after being booked into the Lexington County jail. "He's not mental. He's mean. He's malicious. He's a murderer," Myers said, his voice rising.
Myers delivered his final words pointing to a mannequin that wore Sykes' blood-stained and burned uniform. "He turned this good man into this charred body," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. He said death was the only punishment for so brutal a crime. After the attorneys made their statements, Finklea made his plea to the jury. He began speaking as soon as he stood up from his seat.
"I am not an animal," he said. Finklea began addressing Sykes' family but quickly was told to direct his statement to the jury. He continued to turn his head toward the family as he spoke. He said he was very sorry for what happened that night. "I don't have a father, so I don't know what it's like to lose a father," he said.
He told the jury he had a 13- year-old son he wanted to see grow up. He spoke about how proud he was to have served his country for 10 years in the Army. Finklea told the jury the security video and photographs of the attempted robbery including Sykes running out of the building in flames didn't jog his memory. He said, "I wish I could remember so I could give this family closure." Sykes' daughters Shanon Sykes-Daniels, 37, and Antionette Sykes, 36, were pleased with the verdict. "Every time I saw (Finklea) in court with his family, I could see they were having those silent moments, and it would fill me with a silent rage.
We can't have those moments with our father. He took that from us," Antionette Sykes said..
